Bearing seal



March 25, 1952 s, LARGE 2,590,422

BEARING SEAL J Filed Jan. 19, 1946 0 2o 52 2: I 4 24 .ST/FFEN/NG COAT/NG 59 BY WW 5 446/ His ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 25 1952 UNITED STATES T OFFICE BEARING SEAL Samuel R. Large, Bristol, Conin, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware- 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bearings and particularly to bearin seals which prevent leakage of lubricant from a bearing and which also prevent the entrance of dirt and other deleterious materials into the bearing.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved labyrinth type of seal for sealing the annular space between relatively rotatable parts such asthe race rings of an antifriction bearing.

Another objectis to provide for an antifriction bearing an improved sealing device having relatively rotatable parts which-cooperatively form an everchanginglabyrinth during their relative rotation-r Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and improved labyrinth type of seal that has relatively rotatable members in yieldable relation to each other and which will maintain an efiicient sealing relation even under conditions of misalignment.

To these ends and also to improve generally upon devices of this character, my invention consists in the various matters hereinafter described and claimed. In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific structures selected for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawingsin which Figure 1 is an enlarged fragmentary cross secticn'al view of a portion of an antifriction bearing having one form of the sealing device;

Figure la. is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an antifriction bearing having another embodiment of the sealing device;

Figure2 is a perspective view of. the slingergripping ring shown in Figure 1a;

Figures 3 and 3a are similar fragmentary cross sectional views ofantifriction bearings provided with two other forms of related sealing devices;

and

Figure 4 is a fragmentarysectional View showing the method ofmounting the slinger shown in Figure 3a.

Generally considered, my sealing device closes an end of an annular lubricant chamber IO' between 3, pair-of relatively rotatable members such as antifriction bearing inner and outer race rings IZ and'fM provided with raceways" l5 and It for receiving rolling elements suchas balls I8. An annular shield, carried byone ofthese race rings, radially extends into closely spaced relation to the other race ring, and-a sealing Washer or annular slinger, as 2-0, secured to and rotatable with thisother race ring, radiallyprojects into anannular groove formed by thisshield." This slinger, which ispreferably'madeoffelt or a like material of intermingled fibers, has a surface nap, as 2%, composed of closely spaced'outwardly projecting lubricant-coated fibers thatlightly wipe :in antifrictional contact with the inner walls of the shield. The many small interstices between these fibers cooperatively provide between the shield and the slinger body a labyrinth in the general form of a maze whose interconnectedpassages are so small that dirt will not pass therethrough into the lubricant chamber and-lubricant is prevented irom leaking out of the lubricant chamber.

Referring to the seal of Figural, the inner race ring l2 has a peripheralnotch 23-terminatingzin an annular shoulder 24; and the outer race ring it has near its end a circular'groove 25 opening towards the inner race ring and mergingwith an annular shoulder 2=6;.- A shield, made of a pair of cooperating dished washers-Hand '28; has an annular recess 38 that opens radially into the notch 23. A side wall 3-2- of the innerdished washer 28 extendsinto closely spaced relation ,with the periphery of the inner race ring [2 the shield in position in generally the same manner as disclosed in the United States patent to Murden, Number 2,140,091, and issued December 13, 1938.

My annular slingerZfl, which rotates as a unit with the inner racering I2; is press-fitted'on the peripheral notch 23 against theshoulder'24. The body portion of this slingerwvithin'the recess 39 is in closely spaced relation to the shield walls 32, 38 and 39, and the short closely spaced fibers of the nap 2!, which become coated with lubricant from the chamber"), lightly wipe'in antifrictional contact with these shield walls. The variation in rate of race ring rotation as well as the slight relatively eccentric movements between the flexible 'slinger 2D and the shield will vary the wiping engagement of the nap fibers causing them to flex so that the small passages between these fibers will change in size and form an everchanging labyrinth or maze which revents lubricant lealrage-from the chamber 1 0 and prevents entrance of dirtinto thejbearin'g; In some instances, I ha've'found'it" convenient to initially treat myslinger 2t with a fiexibl stifiening material to aid the slinger in maintaining its press-fit in the peripheral notch 23 and to also stifien the fiexible nap fibers. For example, the felt slinger may be initially sprayed with or dipped in a solvent-carried suitable rubber-like compound such as Thiokol. Evaporation of the solvent leaves the fibers coated with the rubberlike material and leaves the interstices between these fibers to still act as a labyrinth or maze.

The construction of Figure la is generally similar. A two-part shield, composed of cooperating dished members 42 and 43, has an annular recess 44 in which rotates a felt-like slinger 45 generally similar to the slinger and pressfitted in a peripheral notch against a shoulder on the inner race ring. The slinger 45 is additionally secured to the race ring I2 by a gripping ring 43 generally U shaped in cross section and provided with an intermediate portion press-fitted in the peripheral notch 46. The inher end of the ring 48 has a flange 50 pressed against the slinger 45, and a set of peripherally disposed teeth 52 laterally project from this side wall into the slinger 45. A side wall of the outer shield member 43 terminates in a stepped portion that extends into a grooved portion of I the ring 48 between the side wall 59 and an outwardly flared rim 53 which serves as a slinger to throw deleterious matter away from the seal.

Another and somewhat similar seal construction is shown in Figure 3 wherein a two-part shield composed of cooperating dished washers 54 and 55 are supported by an outer race ring 56 and provide an annular recess 51 that receives an annular felt slinger 60 which is pressfitted in a peripheral end notch 5| on an inner race ring 62. A gripping ring 64, having an L- shaped cross section is pressed onto the bottom of the notch SI and against the side of the slinger 60 to aid in securing this slinger to the inner race ring for rotation therewith.

Another embodiment is shown in Figure 3a, a

wherein a two-part shield is composed of interfitted washers 64 and 55 similar to and mounted in the same manner as the dished washers 21 and 28. These washers (i4 and 65 provide an an nular groove 66 in which rotates a felt-like slinger 61 similar to the slinger 2B. The slinger 6? is clamped between the side walls 68 and 69 of a retaining ring of generally U-shaped cross section mounted in a peripheral notch H having a shallow peripherally disposed generally arcuate groove 12 transversely extending from a cylindrical land 73 to an annular shoulder 14. Prior to mounting the slinger 61', the side wall 68, which has peripherally disposed and laterally inwardly directed teeth 15 similar to the teeth 52, is bent outwardly from parallel relation to the side wall 69 so that the felt slinger 51' may be stretched and easily inserted within the retaining ring as shown in Figure 4. A bottom wall 76 of this retaining ring is initially cylindrical and of a size to'slidably mount over the cylindrical land 78. After the retaining ring and slinger assembly have been mounted in the peripheral notch 'H with the wall 69 located against the shoulder 14, a suitable ring-shaped tool T is forced against the side Wall 68 to clamp the slinger 6'! between the walls 68 and 69 and to embed the teeth 15 in the slinger. This inward bending of the wall 68 also causes the bottom wall 16 to arcuately deform into fitted relation within the groove 72 so that the slinger and retaining ring assembly are locked to the inner race ring 62 within the notch H.

As illustrated in the seals of Figures 1a and 3, each of my embodiments may have the inner edge of the inner shield washer radially spaced from the inner race ring as at 80, and one or more holes, as 8|, may be provided through the outer shield washer in alignment with the opening 80 so that a hollow needle may be pierced through the felt slinger and used to feed lubricant into the bearing. When this needle is withdrawn, the temporarily displaced felt fibers return to their original positions and the needlepierccd hole disappears.

I claim:

1, In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer mem bers having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, a yieldable annular slinger secured to one of said members for rotation therewith, means on said other member providing an annular groove loosely receiving said yieldable slinger, said groove having side walls in close proximity to said slinger, and a nap on the slinger having closely spaced flexible fibers which project outwardly from the body of the slinger into light wiping engagement with one of said side walls to provide between these fibers a multiplicity of very small interconnecting labyrinthian passages that prevent the entrance of dirt into the lubricant chamber and prevent leakage of lubricant from said chamber.

2. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable spaced annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, a yieldable sealing washer secured to one of said members for rotation therewith, means on said other member providing an annular groove loosely receiving said sealing washer, a nap on the sealing washer having a multiplicity of closely spaced lubricant coated flexible fibers which project outwardly from the body of the sealing washer into light wiping contact with at least one side face of the groove to provide between these fibers an everchanging maze of tiny interconnecting passages during relative rotation of said members, these passages being so small that lubricant cannot leak out of the lubricant chamber and dirt cannot enter into the lubricant chamber.

3. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, a yieldable annular slinger secured to one of said members for rotation therewith, a shield on said other member providing an annular groove substantially completely filled by and loosely receiving said yieldable slinger, side walls on the shield located closely adjacent to the slinger, and a nap on the slinger having closely spaced lubricant coated flexible fibers that project outwardly from the slinger body into light antifrictional contact with said side walls to provide between these fibers a maze of tiny interconnected passages which are so small that lubricant cannot leak from the lubricant chamber and dirt cannot leak into said chamber.

.4. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, a yieldable felt sealing washer secured to one of said members for rotation therewith and radially extending towards said other member, a shield secured to said other member and providing an annular groove that receives the felt sealing washer, side walls on the shield closely adjacent to the sides of the sealing washer, and a nap on the washer having closely spaced outwardly projecting fibers whose outer ends lightly engage said side walls, the spaces between said fibers forming a labyrinth which prevents leakage of lubricant and dirt therethrough.

5. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer members having an annular lubricantchamber therebetween, one of said members having a pcripherally extending notch, a yieldable sealing washer of intermingled fibers pressed onto said notch for rotation with said member, a flexible material impregnating the sealing washer to stiffen the washer and provide a thin fiexible coating on the fibers Without filling the interstices between the fibers, and a shield on the other of said members providing a groove which receives the rotatable sealing washer.

6. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of said members having a peripherally extending notch, a yieldable sealing washer of felted fibers pressed onto said notch and radially extending towards said other'member, a flexible rubber-like material coating said fibers and stiffening the sealing washer, means on the other of said members providing a groove which loosely receives the sealing washer between the sides of said groove, and a nap on the washer having a multiplicity of closely spaced fibers which project outwardly from the body of the sealing washer into light wiping engagement with a side of said groove.

7. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch terminating in a shoulder, a yieldable sealing washer mounted in said notch against the shoulder and radially extending towards said other member, a gripping ring pressed onto the notch against the sealing washer to clamp the, washer in position, a shield on said other member providing a groove that receives said washer, and a nap on the washer having a multiplicity of closely spaced fibers which extend outwardly from the body of the washer into light wiping engagement with a side of said groove.

8. In a device of the character indicated, a pair or relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch terminating in a shoulder, a yieldable sealing washer mounted in said notch against the shoulder and extending towards said other member, a gripping ring pressed onto the notch against the sealing washer, a shield projecting from said other member and having a groove which receives the sealing washer, and a peripherally extending slinger rim on the gripping ring outside of said shield.

9. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch, a yieldable sealing washer mounted in said notch, a gripping ring pressed onto the notch and having a flange pressed against the washer to secure the washer in position, a slinger rim on the gripping ring, a shield projecting from said other member and having an annular groove which receives the sealing washer, and a sidewall on said shield which extends into closely spaced relation with the gripping ring between said flange and said rim.

l0. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch, a yieldable sealing washer mounted on said notch and radially extending towards said other member, a gripping-ring pressed onto said notch and having a flange pressed against the sealing washer, laterally projecting teeth on said flange embedded in the sealing washer, and a shield on said other member having an annular groove receiving said sealing washer.

11. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch, a retaining ring in said notch, a sealing washer supported by the retaining ring and radially projecting therefrom, said retaining ring being deformed into gripping relation with the sealing washer and with said notch, and a shield on said other member having an annular groove which receives the sealing washer.

12. In a device of the character indicated, a pair of relatively rotatable inner and outer annular members having an annular lubricant chamber therebetween, one of the members having a peripherally extending notch, the bottom of said notch having a peripherally extending groove, a retaining ring in said notch and having a bottom wall connecting a. pair of spaced annular side walls, a sealing washer gripped by said side walls, the bottom wall being deformed into gripping engagement with the notched member within said groove, and a shield on said other member provided with an annular groove that receives the sealing washer.

SAMUEL R. LARGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,594,838 Kegresse Aug. 3, 1926 1,910,061 Schatz May 23. 1933 2,054,580 Delaval-Crow Sept. 15, 1936 2,132,838 Weckstein Oct. 11, 1938 2,137,546 Searles Nov. 22, 1938 2,403,687 Shafer July 9, 1946 2,463,568 Shelton Mar. 8, 19 9 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 371,379 Italy of 1939 

